Cicuta virosa

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical range concentrated across several Northern European regions. It can be found growing within the territories of Denmark and Finland. Its distribution also extends to the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Furthermore, the species is documented to inhabit the landscapes of Norway. Collectively, these locations define its primary natural habitat across the northern part of the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cicuta virosa is characterized by its preference for highly moist and varied hydrological environments, frequently inhabiting forests, lakes, meadows, rivers, shores, shrubberies, and swamps. This species demonstrates a broad altitudinal distribution, thriving across a diverse elevational gradient that ranges from a minimum of 400 m AMSL to a maximum of 2900 m AMSL, with an average elevation of approximately 1650 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2900 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1650 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

400 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, lakes, meadows: wet, rivers, shores, shrubberies, swamps

Life history

The life history of Cicuta virosa is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its habitat over multiple growing seasons. It functions as a hemicryptophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, often protected by leaf litter or organic matter. This species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage annually as it responds to seasonal environmental changes. Through its status as a hemicryptophyte, the plant manages its survival across varying conditions, utilizing its underground structures to re-emerge and complete its developmental stages year after year.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cicuta virosa is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. This self-supporting plant does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, and it operates as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. It is primarily a terrestrial species, though it can exist in semiaquatic environments. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits a variable height, typically reaching a minimum of 0.5 m, with a mean height of approximately 0.7625 m, and can attain a maximum height of up to 1.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.7625 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cicuta virosa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway and a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy. The foliage exhibits significant morphological variation, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 2 cm, maintaining a mean length of 1.5 cm. The width of the leaves is relatively narrow, oscillating between a minimum of 0.2 cm and a maximum of 0.5 cm, which contributes to an overall mean leaf size of 171.22417 cm². Furthermore, the plant demonstrates a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 209.6 cm²/g, reflecting its internal leaf structure and resource allocation strategies.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

2 cm

Leaf length mean:

1.5 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf size mean:

171.22417 cm²

Leaf width max:

0.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.2 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

209.6 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cicuta virosa is characterized by a strictly sexual process, as both asexual reproduction and self-fertilization are noted to be absent. The flowering period typically commences in June and concludes in August. The plant relies on biotic pollination syndromes, specifically utilizing insects, with bees identified as a primary pollinator. Following successful pollination, the plant produces small fruits that range in length from a minimum of 0.2 cm to a maximum of 0.3 cm (with a mean length of 0.225 cm) and in width from 0.2 cm to 0.3 cm (with a mean width of 0.225 cm). The resulting seeds are quite minute, possessing a mean mass of approximately 0.001267 g, with individual seed masses varying between a minimum of 0.00061 g and a maximum of 0.00186 g. Dispersal of the seeds is achieved through a hydrochorous syndrome, meaning they are spread by water.

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit length max:

0.3 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.225 cm

Fruit length min:

0.2 cm

Fruit width max:

0.3 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.225 cm

Fruit width min:

0.2 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.00186 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00126733333333333 g

Seed mass min:

0.00061 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cicuta virosa has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit.

Fruit

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials